British Slang

At the London School of English we have students who come from all over the world and regardless of what they are studying they always ask about slang words they have heard. So, as requested, this is the first of two blogs that I’m writing on slang.

Working and living in London I hear slang daily on the tube, bus and of course in my local.  So here’s an imaginary conversation between two blokes in the pub.

Bloke A: Did you see the game last night?

Bloke B: Nah, couldn’t, was out with that blond we met last week, but won’t be seeing her again, as talking to her she sounded like a bunny boiler!

Bloke A: Sorry mate, but you must’ve had your beer goggles on, I'd already sussed that out and I think she’s a total moose!

Bloke B: Yeh, you’re right, that’s the last time I take someone’s number when I’m off my face.  I’m hacked off I missed the footie but will defo watch Chelsea thrash Man U next week.

Bloke A: It won’t be a doddle but we should do it as long as we don’t get any iffy decisions against us and they don’t get a jammy goal.

Bloke B: Fingers crossed.  Anyway, you getting a round in?

Bloke A: Sorry, no dosh, I’m skint.

Bloke B: OK Scrooge, I’ve got a tenner so let’s have one for the road.

Bloke A: Cheers.

Please remember that a lot of slang is not always polite or politically correct.  My next blog will be about rhyming slang, for example, Andy will soon have a trouble and strife (wife) congratulations!

Please ask us if you have any slang that you would like help with.  There are also many sites that can help you, click here or Google the word slang.

By Heather

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Improve your confidence in spoken English with our General English course or Individual English training in our centre in London or online.

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Glossary

Tube – (n) the underground
Local – (n) the local pub (a public house that you regularly go to)
Bloke – (n) a man
Game – (n) a football match
Blond – (n) a blond-haired woman
Bunny boiler – (n) an obsessive dangerous woman (taken from the film Fatal Attraction 1987)
Mate – (n) a friend (usually used between two men)
Beer goggles – (n) this refers to having bad eyesight due to too much alcohol
Suss out – (v) work out or calculate
Moose – (n) a very unattractive woman
Off one’s face – (adj) very drunk
Hacked off – (adj) annoyed
Defo – (adv) definitely
Thrash – (v) beat
Doddle – (n) easy
Iffy – (adj) incorrect, unsound
Jammy – (adj) lucky
Fingers crossed – (exp) an action done for good luck
Get a round in – (exp) to buy the drinks for the people you are with (usually taken in turns)
Dosh – (n) money
Skint – (adj) having no money
Scrooge – (n) a very mean ungenerous person (taken from Charles Dickens' book A Christmas Carol)
Tenner – (n) a ten-pound note (a fiver is a five-pound note, surprise!)
One for the road – (exp) the last drink before you leave the pub
Cheers – (exp) said when you drink together and also means thanks
Politically correct – (exp) to right thing to say without being sexist, racist etc.

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About The London School of English

The London School of English has over 100 years of history teaching English and communication skills to adult learners. It is the joint #1 English language school in the UK according to the British Council inspections, the highest rated English language school in the world on Trustpilot, and the best value for money school according The English Language Gazette. 

Our practical, individualised approach enables our clients to learn effectively and make rapid progress. Courses include General English, Individual English training, Legal English, Business and Professional English, IELTS preparation and Academic English. We also offer bespoke business solutions for staff training and assessment. 

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